Layered ISTAR ‘critical’ to evolving operations
The UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) and Raytheon UK have described the use of layered ISTAR assets as ‘critical’ to current operations.
According to RAF Sentinel crews and business development executives at the company, such a capability has developed innovative concept of operations (CONOPS) in the contemporary operating environment.
Head of airborne systems at Raytheon UK, Paul Francis, said: ‘The layer of ISTAR capability is critical to deliver a mix for operations. Sentinel, Shadow and the introduction of UAVs provide low-complex to high-complex operations [coverage].’
However, Francis warned: ‘UAVs are not the panacea we all thought they would be. manned-unmanned
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